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Python Tuple

A tuple is an ordered, immutable collection. Once created, its elements cannot be changed. Tuples are faster than lists and can be used as dictionary keys.

Creating Tuples

# With parentheses
point = (10, 20)
colors = ("red", "green", "blue")
mixed = (1, "hello", 3.14, True)

# Without parentheses (tuple packing)
coordinates = 4, 5, 6

# Single-element tuple (trailing comma required!)
single = (42,)        # tuple
not_tuple = (42)      # just an integer!

# From other iterables
from_list = tuple([1, 2, 3])
from_range = tuple(range(5))
from_string = tuple("abc")  # ("a", "b", "c")

Accessing and Unpacking

point = (10, 20, 30)

# Indexing and slicing (same as lists)
print(point[0])     # 10
print(point[-1])    # 30
print(point[1:])    # (20, 30)

# Tuple unpacking
x, y, z = point
print(x, y, z)      # 10 20 30

# Extended unpacking with *
first, *rest = (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
print(first)  # 1
print(rest)   # [2, 3, 4, 5]

# Swap variables (tuple packing/unpacking)
a, b = 1, 2
a, b = b, a   # now a=2, b=1

Tuple Operations

t = (1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 2)

print(len(t))          # 6
print(t.count(2))      # 3 (occurrences of 2)
print(t.index(3))      # 2 (first index of 3)
print(2 in t)          # True

# Concatenation and repetition
a = (1, 2)
b = (3, 4)
print(a + b)    # (1, 2, 3, 4)
print(a * 3)    # (1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2)

# Tuples are immutable!
# t[0] = 99  # TypeError: tuple does not support item assignment

When to Use Tuples

# 1. Return multiple values from functions
def get_user():
    return "Alice", 25, "NYC"

name, age, city = get_user()

# 2. Dictionary keys (lists cannot be keys)
locations = {
    (40.7, -74.0): "New York",
    (51.5, -0.1): "London",
}

# 3. Named tuples for structured data
from collections import namedtuple
Point = namedtuple("Point", ["x", "y"])
p = Point(3, 4)
print(p.x, p.y)   # 3 4

• Tuples are immutable — use them for data that should not change.
• Single-element tuples need a trailing comma: (42,) not (42).
• Tuple unpacking is a Pythonic way to assign multiple variables at once.
• Tuples are faster and use less memory than lists — prefer them for fixed data.
• Use namedtuple for self-documenting tuple structures.